It may be a coincidence, or it may be completely related, either way less than a week after Paul George’s horrific injury in the Team USA inter-squad scrimmage Kevin Durant has withdrawn from Team USA Basketball. Citing mental and physical exhaustion and the need to prepare for the upcoming NBA season, Durant’s departure comes three weeks away from the beginning of the FIBA World Championships.

Read Durant’s statement below:

“This was an extremely difficult decision as I take great pride in representing our country,” Durant said in a statement. “I know that I owe it to my USA Basketball teammates to be totally invested in the experience. After going through training camp with USAB, I realized I could not fulfill my responsibilities to the team from both a time and energy standpoint.

I need to take a step back and take some time away, both mentally and physically in order to prepare for the upcoming NBA season. I will be rooting for USAB and look forward to future opportunities with them.”

For Team USA this may be a death knoll for their FIBA chances with Spain is as strong as ever. Durant was set to be the offensive centerpiece of the team and now he’s gone. Coach K and his staff will make adjustments but their dreams of Durant playing power forward on a speed and shooting-heavy team are gone. After George’s injury more departures may follow (*cough* Derrick Rose *cough*) but even if the team remains the same this is as vulnerable as the red, white and blue have been in international play since the 2004 Olympic Games.

NBA Superstars barely get any time off, what with international play, deep playoff runs, and huge minutes requirements throughout a LONG season.

This is why I think the season should be shorter, and the NBA should switch to the 40-minute format of FIBA. Not only would it unite basketball internationally (and prepare our guys for the shorter, faster-paced FIBA World Cup/Olympics), it would give guys a well-deserved break and allow us the fans to enjoy them for just a little bit longer.

KD was supppsed to play the four too, so now you’re stuck with PFs who can’t shoot the 3 ball (Faried and to a lesser extent Davis) or undersized SFs who gonna have to play up (Korver and Parsons). The whole point of international play is to space the floor. Guess what PF team USA cut who can do that? Paul Trillsap. If Coach K really cuts Boogie for Plumee, then Fuck him.

I know people are really ready to take Coach K to task for this, but it’s not like Demarcus Cousins does what Plumlee does but way better. They’re completely different players. Plumlee’s game is predicated on running the floor, hustling, and bringing energy while looking for weakside blocks and cutting to the basket for easy points and buckets. If you think that is more important than throwing it in to a center and letting him bang, then you take Plumlee. His game is more “role player” ready than Boogie’s “feature player” game.

@Garian But after a certain point, talent makes up for the difference in play-styles, doesn’t it? of all the centers we had play for the National team, not many had the play-style Plumee has. Besides, Plumlee still can’t shoot to save his life and if you’re going to have stretch 4s, you need someone to catch those long rebounds. Wouldn’t Boogie better serve in that area? And he’d be a matchup problem against anyone internationally. I just think the only reason we’re having this convo is because of Boogie’s history and Plumlee’s Duke connection.

Talent is extremely important, but so is fit. I don’t know what Coach K wants from his big men this year, but in the past it hasn’t been a “set up shop and do work” type of big since he’s been coaching the team in 2006.

Now you have a case that there were probably better big men for him to go grab that could fit that role better than Mason, but it’s not like he and Colangelo didn’t try. If Love, Aldridge, and Blake wouldn’t have pulled out, we wouldn’t be having this convo right now.

Plimlee is a crazy athlete. He’s a more athlete “Psycho T” at this point. Unless you’re running a half court o, neither cat is really a good fit for international ball given both players’ lack of outside shooting and shortcomings on perimeter D. Aldridge woulda been the ideal stretch 4 here.

Personally I see games being closer than need be because I think we’re gonna lack the shooting and stength at the 5 and 4…

i actually like plumlee. he’s no cousins of course, but he does bring a role player dive on the floor skill thats needed. cousins might not have been open to doing that dirty work. i dont remember seeing alot of bangin in the post in fiba games.
i’m more annoyed that he wasnt selected to allstar team. this fiba shit is like ok no biggie.

Stop it. Kevin Durant will get paid regardless. He’s the MVP of the league and any shoe deal will still be on the table. NBA contracts are guaranteed too.

Don’t let these niggas finesse you like that. He’s scared to get injured but if you’re scared to get injured then you shouldn’t be playing period.

Mental & Physical Fatigue???? Really bruh?? REALLY??? He aint go deep in the playoffs he was out in the 2nd round what 3 months ago. He could have said that bullshit before they even went to Vegas. He could have pulled out when Westbrook, Love & Griffin did.

I’m a KD fan but that’s a bitch ass move. I’ve never done this before with KD but now I have to question his heart and maybe that’s the reason he can’t get his team over the hump.

he already got a gold medal as the feature player at this same tourney and has already won Olympic gold. What’s best is for him to go into this season locked in and win a chip. NBA fans/watchers are ready to go nuclear on him and LeBron if they don’t win it all this year, fair or unfair.